Protocol for the Development of Columbaria Niche Spaces or Memorial Gardens in the Archdiocese of Atlanta Archdiocese of Atlanta Revised June 16, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS Protocol for Columbaria and Memorial Gardens... 3-4 Right to Inurnment Agreement...... 5-6 Columbarium Rules and Regulations..... 7-8 Memorial Garden Rules and Regulations.... 9-10 Sample Forms........ 11-17 2 P a g e
Protocol for the Development of Columbaria Niches Spaces or Memorial Gardens in the Archdiocese of Atlanta For any parish or Mission of the Archdiocese of Atlanta wishing to establish a columbarium or memorial garden for the placement of cremated remains of the human body, the following course of action must be followed: 1) If interested in establishing a columbarium or memorial garden please contact the Office of Cemeteries [before any plans are in place] to begin a discussion on how best to provide this opportunity for the parishioners of the parish/mission. The Office will assist you in obtaining the Archbishop s review and approval. 2) As part of the planning procedure with the Office of Cemeteries, the parish/mission will be required to submit a financial plan to the Archbishop prior to approval. The plan must include the following: a. survey results b. proposed development costs c. proposed retail sale prices d. rules and regulations e. forms governing the project If approved, prior to the start of construction, the parish/mission will be required to establish a fund at the Archdiocese in the amount equal to one third of the total cost of the project (cost from design to completion) for the express purpose of relocation of the columbarium and/or the garden, should that become necessary. 3) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in their publication, Reflections on the Body, Cremation and Catholic Funeral Rites states "Although cremation is now permitted, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body. Catholic teaching continues to stress the preference for burial or entombment of the body of the deceased." Placing columbaria near churches offers only those who are to be cremated the opportunity for entombment near their church. Individuals who prefer full body burial or entombment are not afforded that opportunity. This could send the message that if the faithful want their remains inurned near the church they must be cremated. Consequently, the columbaria site should not be located within view of the main entrance to the church. The Archdiocese Construction Department and Office of Cemeteries can assist in sighting the project and sourcing the project to highly qualified vendors. 3 P a g e
4) Cremated remains of the human body to be placed in a memorial garden shall conform to the Rules and Regulations for Memorial Gardens (with the burial of cremated remains of the human body). 5) The Office of Cemeteries will advise on how best to conduct a survey of your parishioners to determine the parish/mission ability to sell such space in the immediate term and long term. A survey must be done to make the project as feasible as possible. 6) The Office of Cemeteries can provide samples of forms to utilize for the selling of burial rights, ordering inscriptions, memorials or plaques, and for permanent record keeping. These industry standard forms are essential in order to protect your parish/mission and the Archdiocese of Atlanta. For example, the forms cover items such as provisions for the following: if the parish needed to relocate at some time in the future, the columbarium or memorial garden would have to be moved as well; or, if over time spaces purchased were not used by the purchasers, can they be used by a son or daughter. These forms can help you deal with such a myriad of issues. 7) It is possible that some columbarium or memorial gardens be established jointly with another or multiple parishes/missions. 8) Those parishes with existing facilities will be asked to review the procedures now in place, and if necessary update procedures and forms as appropriate in order to insure the prudent implementation of this valuable ministry. 9) 14% of the total revenue received for the niche shall be placed in a D&L account for perpetual care fund. 4 P a g e
Archdiocese of Atlanta DONATION/PURCHASE OF RIGHT TO INURNMENT AGREEMENT FOR COLUMBARIUMS This Agreement is between the Archdiocese of Atlanta, a Religious Corporation organized under the Laws of the State of Georgia (hereinafter called "Church") and the undersigned purchaser(s) (hereinafter called "Purchaser"). Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Telephone: 1.Columbarium: Email: Niche(s) Number: Section: Purchase Price: $ 2. Service Fee(s): $ 3. Donation: $ Total Amount Due: $ 4. Terms Of Sale: The Purchaser understands the inscription costs are not included in the purchase price of the niche space(s). Said Purchaser is subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Church, and all other terms set forth in this Agreement. 5. Terms and Conditions A. The Columbarium and its Niches, their use and maintenance, are at all times subject to the management of the Church, as constituted from time to time, or of its duly organized committee in whom is vested the right to control the maintenance and use thereof, and the terms of this contract with respect to such maintenance and use may be changed, modified, varied, amended, or altered at any time in the sole discretion of the Church or its committees. The Purchaser agrees that by this donation herein made, said Purchaser does not acquire any property rights of any kind whatsoever in or to the niche referred to herein. B. All fees for inscription are not included in the purchase price. These fees will be paid at the time of need. These prices are available at the Church and are subject to change from time to time. All inscriptions will be done by the Church or its designee. 5 P a g e
C. Church reserves the right to limit the size of urn for each niche. Each niche will measure the following dimensions: " high x " wide x " deep. Each niche front will be inscribed according to the Rules and Regulations of the Church. D. If the Church, in its sole discretion, at any time decides to change the location of the columbarium, or to discontinue the use of the columbarium or any part thereof, it may have the ashes removed from any niche or niches affected by such change or discontinuance and placed in another suitable niche in the columbarium or in such other place as the Church in its sole discretion shall deem proper. E. Owners or those designated Next of Kin may request at their discretion to have the cremains of the body returned to them for inurnment in another location, thereby relinquishing ownership of the right to inurnment in the niche to the church. 6. Claims Against Sellers Any holder of this consumer credit contract is subject to all claims and defenses which the debtor could assert against the seller of goods or services obtained pursuant hereto or with the proceeds hereof. Recovery hereunder by the debtor shall not exceed amounts paid by the debtor hereunder. 6. Default by Purchaser If Purchaser fails to make timely payments by any amount due hereunder, Church may cancel this Agreement and shall be released from any further obligation hereunder. In the event of such cancellation, the Church shall retain all monies paid to date, not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of only the sale price (excludes the donation) as compensation for the costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with the sale of the right to inurnment. BY: Parish Representative Purchaser: Purchaser: Parish Name 6 P a g e
Archdiocese of Atlanta COLUMBARIUM RULES AND REGULATIONS The following Rules and Regulations having been duly adopted by the Archdiocese of Atlanta Georgia. They are intended to insure that proper care be taken in all inurnments in the columbarium located on the grounds of the Church. The cremated remains of all individuals must be placed in an urn made of an enduring material approved by the Church. Memorialization of the individual will be a bronze inscription on the niche front of each niche. The inscription shall be limited to the deceased first name, middle initial and a surname, with the years of birth and death. All inscriptions will be made with bronze plaques. Only one inscription for each niche is allowed. No inscription will be made without a written "Authorization for Inscription" on file with the Church. Any and all memorabilia placed in the niche only with the approval of the church. All niche owners or visitors are subject to the Rules and Regulations herein contained and may have access to the columbarium by appointment from the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on weekdays; and 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends. The Church maintains the right to adjust the time periods designated as normal operating hours. No keys or other instruments of access will be issued to niche owners. Upon payment in full for any niche, a Certificate of Right of Inurnment shall be duly executed and delivered to the purchaser. This grants inurnment rights for the placement of human cremated remains only, the ownership in fee of the land and structure remains with the church. The Purchaser may designate the cremated remains of the body to such person as the Purchaser desires to have inurned in the niche referred to, but the Church shall have sole discretion as to the persons whose cremated remains of the human body may be interred in the Columbarium and the permission of the Church must, in each instance, be obtained in writing prior to the placing of any cremated remains of the body in any niche within the Columbarium. Upon the death of the Purchaser, such privilege of designation shall pass as the Purchaser shall by will direct, or in the absence of testamentary direction, to the heirs at law of the Purchaser, but the right of inurnment shall continue to be subject at all times to the approval of the Church. The right of inurnment hereby given to the Purchaser shall not be assigned or transferred without the written consent of the Church, nor shall the Church be obliged to recognize any right to inurnment hereunder in any heirs, distributees or devisees of the Purchaser. If the Purchaser desires to assign or transfer any right of inurnment hereby given, the Purchaser shall submit the name or names of the assignee or transferee to the Church which reserves the right to withhold consent to such assignment or transfer for any reason which in its sole discretion shall deem proper. All fees must be paid, in full, prior to any inurnment. Once an inurnment has been completed, no removal of said remains can be completed without the approval of the Church. Owners or those designated Next of Kin may request at their discretion to have the cremains of the body returned 7 P a g e
to them for inurnment in another location, thereby relinquishing ownership of the niche to the church. The Church reserves the right to limit size, type, style and material of urn. Dimensions of niche space are " wide x " high x " deep. All remains must be in a durable container to be placed in niche. All niche spaces are for one remains only. The Church will reserve the right to refuse inurnment based on size of urn. Space will be provided for suitable floral tributes at the time of any memorial service and when family or friends may wish to arrange with the Church such decorations. Only living flowers will be permitted in the areas designated by the Church. No artificial flowers or pictures, artifacts, vigil lights, crockery, toys or similar ornaments or articles will be permitted. Any such decorations will be removed upon discovery without notice to the owner. Also, flower tributes will be removed when they deteriorate or become unsightly. All inurnments and inscriptions will be performed by the Church or its designee. All requests for work must be made to the Church. The above rules may from time to time be amended by the Church and all such amendments shall be available in the Church offices. All Rules and Regulations of Church columbarium are subject to the applicable laws of the State of Georgia. Adopted: Pastor: 8 P a g e
Archdiocese of Atlanta MEMORIAL GARDEN RULES AND REGULATIONS The following Rules and Regulations having been duly adopted by the Archdiocese of Atlanta Georgia. They are intended to insure that proper care be taken in all inurnments in the memorial garden located on the grounds of the Church. The cremated remains of the body of all individuals must be placed in an urn made of an enduring material approved by the Church. Memorialization of the individual will be a. The inscription shall be limited to the deceased first name, middle initial and a surname, with the years of birth and death. All inscriptions will be made with. No inscription will be made without a written "Authorization for Inscription" on file with the Church. All Memorial Garden Purchasers or visitors are subject to the Rules and Regulations herein contained and may have access to the garden by appointment from the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on weekdays; and 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends. The Church maintains the right to adjust the time periods designated as normal operating hours. No keys or other instruments of access will be issued to memorial garden owners. Upon payment in full for any garden lot, a Certificate of Right to Inurnment shall be duly executed and delivered to the Purchaser. This grants inurnment rights for the placement of human cremated remains only, the ownership in fee of the land and structure remains with the church. The Purchaser may designate the cremated remains of the body of such person as the Purchaser desires to have inurned in the garden lot referred to, but the Church shall have sole discretion as to the persons whose cremated remains may be interred in the Memorial Garden and the permission of the Church must in each instance be obtained in writing prior to the placing of any cremated remains of the body in any garden lot within the Memorial Garden. Upon the death of the Purchaser, such privilege of designation shall pass as the Purchaser shall by will direct, or in the absence of testamentary direction, to the heirs at law of the Purchaser, but the right of inurnment shall continue to be subject at all times to the approval of the Church. The right of inurnment hereby given to the Purchaser shall not be assigned or transferred without the written consent of the Church, nor shall the Church be obliged to recognize any right to inurnment hereunder in any heirs, distributees or devisees of the Purchaser. If the Purchaser desires to assign or transfer any right of interment hereby given, the Purchaser shall submit the name or names of the assignee or transferee to the Church which reserves the right to withhold consent to such assignment or transfer for any reason which in its sole discretion shall deem proper. All fees must be paid, in full, prior to any inurnment. Once an inurnment has been completed, no removal of said remains can be completed without the approval of the Church. Owners or those designated Next of Kin may request at their discretion to have the cremains returned to them for inurnment in another location, thereby relinquishing ownership of the right of inurnment of the niche to the church. 9 P a g e
The Church reserves the right to limit size, type, style and material of urn. Dimensions of garden lot spaces are _" wide x _" high x _" deep. All remains must be in a durable container to be placed in the garden lot. All garden lot spaces are for durable container to be placed in niche. All niche spaces are for one remains only. The Church will reserve the right to refuse inurnment based on size of urn. Space will be provided for suitable floral tributes at the time of any memorial service and when family or friends may wish to arrange with the Church such decorations. Only living flowers will be permitted in the areas designated by the Church. No artificial flowers or pictures, artifacts, vigil lights, crockery, toys or similar ornaments or articles will be permitted. Any such decorations will be removed upon discovery without notice to the owner. Also, flower tributes will be removed when they deteriorate or become unsightly. All inurnments and inscriptions will be performed by the Church or its designee. All requests for work must be made to the Church. The above rules may from time to time be amended by the Church and all such amendments shall be available in the Church offices. All Rules and Regulations the Church Memorial Garden is subject to are the applicable laws of the State of Georgia. Adopted: Pastor: 10 P a g e
NICHE OWNERSHIP CARD Donor Number: Niche Gallery: Niche Number: Niche Tier(s): Donation Amount: Donor Name: Address: Telephone Number: Fax Number: E-Mail Address: Designation of Right of Burial (if any): (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Funeral Home Preference: Address: Phone: Name of Attorney/Executor: Address: Phone: 11 P a g e
INURNMENT RECORD Name of Deceased: Date of Death: Date of Burial: Funeral Director: Niche Room: Columbarium: Niche Number: Next of Kin: Address: Phone Number: Fax Number: E-Mail Address: Notes & Instructions: Published obituaries should be attached to all entombment/inurnment records. (These cards will be preprinted or built as a template in a word processing system) 12 P a g e
INSCRIPTION AUTHORIZATION FORM is herein authorized to complete the inscription as it appears below: I/we, the undersigned, have carefully reviewed the name and dates above as well as any emblems or epitaph and herein approve the inscription as it appears above. By: Initials: Church Administrator or Pastor: 13 P a g e
CONCEPTUAL FEE SCHEDULE, TERMS OF SALE (SAMPLE) DONATION REQUEST Each Niche: $ 1,500 ($500 of which is a charitable gift) Cenotaph: $ 450 ($200 of which is a charitable gift) $ 600 ($200 of which is a charitable gift) The above donation includes all fees and charges except the plaques affixed to the niche when a committal service occurs. The cost of the plaque is $100. After, 2 the prices will increase as the project nears completion, as follows: Each Niche: $ 1,800 ($800 of which is a charitable gift) Cenotaph: $ 600 TERMS OF SALE All pledges must be paid at the point of the pledge or over a period not greater than one year. If a donor wishes to spread out the payments, all contributions will be set up as quarterly payments. All the donation amounts and other fees and charges must be paid prior to any inurnment. A letter acknowledging the donation and that portion of the donation, which is a contribution, will be indicated in said letter. Accompanying the letter will be a certificate of ownership for the right to utilize the niche or for the cenotaph. All pledges must be made on the donation form and such form shall be recorded at the church. The church shall provide a copy of the form, together with the rules and regulations governing the columbarium and garden. There is no charge for placing the cremated remains in the niche; however, fees for the use of the church and any honorariums are subject to the customs and practices of the church and Pastor. 14 P a g e
DRAFT COVER LETTER {DATE} {NAME} {ADDRESS} {CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE} Dear Parishioner, As a part of our striving to make a center to you and your family's life, we continue to study ministries which may further meet your family's needs. One area of consideration is to expand the Parish/mission bereavement ministry. An option for the Parish/mission is to develop facilities on our grounds for the burial and remembrance of members in a columbarium, or a memorial garden. I am enclosing a questionnaire to learn your views on your eventual cemetery preferences and whether or not facilities on our grounds are of interest to you and your family. Your completing the survey and returning it to me prior to, 2, can be of significant assistance to us in our deliberations. My thanks for your support. Yours in Christ, Pastor: 15 P a g e
DRAFT OF CEMETERY SURVEY Please fill in the questionnaire completely. It is our plan to tabulate the results on or before, 2. Your help in returning your family's survey in advance of, 2 will be appreciated. 1. Name: Address: Phone E-Mail address: 2. Member of Parish approximately year(s). 3. You are: Over 30 years of age Over 40 years of age Over 50 years of age 4. Do you own cemetery space for your own use? Yes No If yes, what is the name of the Cemetery, what city is it located in (City), and what state is it located in (State)? 5. If you own cemetery space now or not, if a death occurred today, which would you prefer? Traditional Ground Burial Above Ground Burial Cremation 6. If were to develop facilities on the Parish campus, would you be interested in Memorial space in niches for cremated remains? Yes No 7. Any additional comments: Signature: 16 P a g e
Niche Number: ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA CERTIFICATE OF RIGHT OF INURNMENT CATHOLIC COLUMBARIUM In consideration of the sum of... Dollars ($...) receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ATLANTA and CATHOLIC CHURCH hereby grants to: the exclusive right of inurnment in niche: Tier... Row... Level... Catholic Columbarium, in the City of, County of and State of Georgia, for the inurnment of the Cremated remains of the body of and for no other purpose, in accordance with the rules and regulations now in force and which shall from time to time be made by the Archdiocese of Atlanta for use, government, regulation, adornment, improvement and control of said Columbarium, and which shall be considered to be part hereof to the same extent and purpose as if herein set forth in full. IN WITNESS WHEREOF: The Archdiocese of Atlanta and have caused these presents to be duly signed this... day of... A. D. 20...... NICHE DIMENSIONS: Depth - 17 inches Width - 11 inches Height -11 inches By:... Pastor, Catholic Church